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November starts the “Christmas” ads that start filling up your daily paper…you can put your weights away and just lift the Sunday paper. I had to laugh yesterday though…I’m not sure I would buy a mattress from Ortho. They actually advertised that they were “extending” their Halloween sale and they had pics of jack o lanterns in the ad. I assumed that their entire advertising department was all laid off so this was their desperate attempt at “creativity”. I mean c’mon…do these Ortho people not know that Veteran’s day is this Wednesday. Do they have something against veterans or will that sale be the next weekend?

I started to look at the catchy phrases that stores are using to lure us in this holiday season-

Sears – Life. Well Spent

Home Depot – More saving. More doing

Walmart – Save Money. Live Better

Target – Expect More. Pay Less

If I was a company this is what my slogan would be – Spend what you can afford. I think that’s awesome! Remember Miracle on 34th Street when Santa would send the customers of Macy’s to Gimbel’s (the competitor) and people then loved Macy’s because it showed “they cared”. Well my slogan says I care.

One more note on Sunday’s ads…can you believe at Toys R Us that you can buy Candy Land for $3.99 with a $2.00 rebate. I think Ortho should have had kids playing Candy Land on one of their beds, saying something like – Candy Land, $1.99. New Mattress, $499. Kids being happy…priceless. Oh wait, that’s been done. But it’s still better than an after Halloween sale…LAME.

Two months from today will be Christmas Eve, the night that presents are put under the tree. I would have to bet that in most households there will be a lot more room under that tree. Yesterday I was at the mall and yes it was a Thursday but still it was dead, in some stores I could hear that clothespin hit the floor. In Macy’s I couldn’t find a pair of shoes and the salesperson said “please, don’t give up, we are so bored”.If anyone is familiar with the Brass Plum department in Nordstrom, well I was the ONLY person shopping at the time…it is usually packed with young women. It was actually an eerie feeling. JC Penney had all their Christmas decorations at 50% off already, that’s early. Oh, and we know the recession is hitting Abercrombie, have you seen the latest poster at the front door to lure you in…the guy might as well be naked. The pants are getting lower and lower, you can see his groin area. They are also spraying more of that obnoxious perfume at the door that lingers out into the mall that makes me gag. And why is it so dark there…do they not want you to see the merchandise or prices?

I know this year my list is basically nothing and maybe it’s a good thing. Christmas has gotten out of control…it seemed like you had to buy everyone, including the person at the DMV who took your photo for your new license a Christmas present! I know it’s corny but present’s are not the reason for the season people! One year my kids and I decided that you had to buy your gift on ebay and the limit was $20.00…that made it fun and a challenge; we all loved it! I know one family who are not exchanging presents this year, instead they are all spending the day together at Disneyland…now something like that is cool. So start thinking now of a fun way for you and your family to save money. Feel free to comment with suggestions!